Assistive garment

ABSTRACT

An assist garments worn on or below the waist has finger loops mounted on a band to assist in dressing and undressing.

BACKGROUND

For various reasons, individuals may have limited upper body range of motion. For example, movement impairment may result from—neurological diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or Guillian Barre Syndrome. Alternatively, it may result from a medical brain-related condition such as a CVA (Cerebral Vascular Accident—Stroke) or Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS) or an auto-immune disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis. Even a standard medical procedure such as a shoulder replacement or a rotator cuff tear protocol may cause a movement impairment and may be temporary or long term.

The signs of movement impairment may include an absence of muscle strength in lifting everyday objects, such as a book or hairbrush. Diminished spatial awareness also may occur where the brain misperceives and analyzes information about the objects around them. Visual processing of that information to guide hand movements results in poor eye-hand coordination. Fine motor skills in small movements such as handwriting and holding a fork steady can become great tasks. Gross motor deficits in larger body parts such as arms and legs can affect running and walking.

A major concern of an individual with limited mobility of the upper body is the loss of their independence with lower body dressing. The individual's sense of worth and self-esteem diminishes as one of the simplest tasks cannot be performed i.e., donning their inner or outer garments when toileting or dressing themselves.

Regaining an individual's independence could decrease the need for an assistant/caregiver paid/unpaid, which could mean the difference between being placed in a skilled nursing home, assisted living facility or remaining independent at home. The essential ability of being able to dress or toilet oneself will tremendously elevate one's self-worth, self-esteem, and reduce the onset of depression. An individual's quality of life will increase as they improve one of the basic activities of daily living skills i.e., dressing and toileting themselves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The following is a description of drawings according to principles described herein.

FIG. 1 illustrates an assistive garment.

FIG. 2 illustrates an assistive garment.

FIG. 3 illustrates an assistive garment.

FIG. 4 illustrates a band with a plurality of loops.

FIG. 5 illustrates a band with a plurality of loops.

FIG. 6 illustrates a band with a plurality of loops.

FIG. 7 illustrates an adjustable band with a plurality of loops.

FIG. 8 illustrates an adjustable band with a plurality of loops.

FIG. 9 illustrates an adjustable band with a plurality of loops.

FIG. 10 illustrates an assistive garment being pulled onto a lower body.

FIG. 11 illustrates an assistive garment being pulled onto a lower body.

FIG. 12 illustrates an assistive garment being worn on a lower body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following relates to an assistive garment that is designed for clothing or adapted to existing clothing for individuals with limitations or disabilities dressing their lower body. For example, exemplary assistive garments assist in the donning inner and outer clothing over hips, tights over legs, socks over feet, etc.

The assistive garment is beneficial for individuals with hand and finger weakness, sensory impairment, fine and/or gross motor coordination impairments and shoulder limitations. Such a garment can be used by individuals of all ages particularly for the disabled community, but not limited to disabled individuals.

An assistive garment that includes a plurality of spaced loops along the circumference of inner and outer garments, incontinence diapers, lower body active wear, socks, half-slips, socks hosiery, and more, will improve one's independence with limited mobility, strength, coordination and dexterity or sensation of the upper body.

The assistive garment will assist an individual to improve lower body dressing, which can be particularly helpful for individuals with limited upper body mobility, strength, fine/gross motor coordination or sensory impairments. The goal is to help individuals transition back to independent living and acclimate to their ‘new normal,’ that is, a desirable form of independence made possible with lower body dressing aids.

An exemplary assistive garment has loops (e.g., 0-0.5, 0.5-1.0 inch, etc.) to insert a finger. Loops are spaced (e.g. 0-1, 1- to 2-inches, etc.) around the circumference of the garment for ease of use. Assistive undergarments can come in various shapes and sizes for adult male and females, young adults, teens, and the disabled community.

An exemplary assistive garment may include A Self-Support Loop Strip that is meant to be attached to an existing garment. The Self-Support Loop Strip is a Velcro strip that can be cut into the appropriate length and attached to existing garments. The assistive garment, whether as a strip or as attached to a garment, is ideal for individuals who suffer from various neurological diseases as well as individuals with hand sensory impairment, gross or fine motor coordination impairment, or limited shoulder movement. Impaired individuals can have a better quality of life when they improve their day-to-day independence with lower body dressing using the present looped garments or the Self-Support Loop Strips.

An aspect includes an assistive garment which comprises a lower body garment with a band adapted for wear around a lower extremity of a user. The band is attached to the lower body garment at edges of a top opening of the lower body garment, with a plurality of finger loops attached along edges of the band. Each loop of the plurality of finger loops provides a space for a finger to be inserted to pull the loop to lift or lower the lower body garment relative to a body of the user.

The lower body garment of the present assistive garment may be any suitable garment construction worn from or below the waist and designed to cover the waist and/or leg. To put such a garment on, it can frequently involve putting a foot into a top opening of the garment and pulling up on the garment. The garment includes those designed for males, females, adults, adolescents, toddlers, children, babies and infants. Examples include underwear, incontinent diapers (e.g., boxer shorts, briefs, panties, jockstraps, lingerie, long johns, compression stockings, pantyhose, slips, half-slips, girdles, etc.), and outerwear (e.g., swimsuits, swimwear, trunks, shorts, active wear, skirts, loincloths, hose, socks, stockings, pants, etc.), and the like. Any garment that is donned on the lower body is anticipated.

The band supports the finger loops and the lower body garment. The band may be a simple panel construction but may also include structure for supporting the garment on the body. Suitable constructions include alone or in combination hems (including hems at the top opening of the lower body garment), support or draw strings, belt buckles, hooks, buttons, latches, closed strip designs, elastic or non-elastic waist bands, and the like.

The material of the band may be elastic, or non-elastic, and vary in rigidity, but should be such that the assistive garment is capable of being put on and worn. Examples include non-rigid materials (natural and synthetic fabrics, elastic and non-elastic materials) and include rigid materials (metal, plastic, wood, etc.). Pliable and flexible materials, such as films, cloths and textiles used in clothing are suitable.

The attachment between the lower body garment and the band may be permanent or removable. The band may be incorporated as an integral part of the edge of the top opening of the lower body garment, or otherwise permanently attached. This may be in the form of one or more of a hem, adhesive strip, additional layers of fabric, or any other suitable construction that is also suitable for attachment of the finger loops. Removable designs may include velcro, hooks, buttons, and the like. A removable design may also be removable while the assist garment is being worn.

The band may also include circumference adjustment systems to conform the band to various waist sizes, such as adjustable belt or straps (as further described below). Alternately, an assistive garment may also have a separate circumference adjustment, such as a conventional belt, and belt loop system.

Pre-existing garments may be modified by attaching a band to the top opening or modifying the top opening of the garment, which becomes the lower body garment. If the pre-existing garment has construction at the top opening that can function as a band, finger loops can be attached directly to the band and top opening.

The finger loops are designed to be accessible, easily found, and provide structure for insertion of a finger or fingers, while the person is pulling the garment on or off. Accordingly, the finger-loops may be positioned on the band and be of a number to fit this requirement. Due to the different needs and abilities of the wearer, a “universal” placement where closely spaced finger loops are attached around the circumference of the band is suitable. The location and spacing of the finger loops may be dependent upon the style, appearance, and function of the assist garment. However, there must be at least one accessible finger loop, and finger loops must be spaced to not materially compromise loop function and the ability to finger grasp a loop.

Finger loops may extend upward for easier use but may optionally be extending down under the band when worn. For example, the band may be attached around bottom circumferential edges to the interior surface of the waist or hip portion of the garment so that the band may pivot around the bottom circumferential edges and may be folded underneath the garment when the garment is being worn. This serves to effectively hide the band when a garment is being worn.

Variations include that one or more loops extend downward relative to the band instead of extending upward. Moreover, the band may include both loops that extend upward as well as loops that extend downward relative to the band.

Example placement of finger loops include at least two loops in the front and two loops in the back, the loops located where belt loops or attachment of suspenders would be. A loop or more than one loop may be located between a midline of a central body axis and a lateral side of the body. In another example, one or more loops are located in one or more of the front center and back center of the band relative to placement on a body. In another example, one or more loops are located on one or more of the sides of the band relative to placement on a body. In another example, loops are spaced all around the band.

The finger loops should allow a finger hold to sufficiently exert an adequate pulling force for dressing and undressing. The material of the finger loops should be compatible with this function and may be strong, elastic or nonelastic, flexible cords or strips, made from a fiber or fabric. The dimensions of the loops may be consistent with known clothing standards for finger dimensions. The finger loops are attached by any suitable system to the band, such as by sewing, adhesives, or using metal or plastic fasteners. The attachments of the finger loops may be optimized for user comfort, and for appearance. The finger loops, and band may have a thin construction and be unnoticeable under an overlying garment.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which shows an exemplary female undergarment 100, showing a lower body garment 108, a band 104 around a top opening of the lower body garment, and a plurality of finger loops 106 each adapted for insertion of a finger for pulling on the undergarment when dressing or undressing.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which shows an exemplary male undergarment 200, showing a band 204 attached to a top opening of a lower body garment 212. Finger loops 206 are attached to the upper edge of the band, providing a means to pull the undergarment up or down by inserting a finger or multiple fingers in one or more finger loops 206.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which shows an exemplary garment 300 of male or for female incontinent diapers. Here the band 304 is incorporated in the lower body garment 314 formed at the edge of the top opening by, for example, at adhesive, edge stitching, top stitching, or other suitable means. The construction for forming the band, may also be used fully or partially for attachment of the finger loops 306.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4, which shows an example of band 404 and finger loop 406 construction. At the upper edge of the band 404 are loops 406. The loops 406 are formed as inverted U shapes with downward extending ends overlapping the band 406.

The loops are made to fit a standard person. A standard person is a mathematical model of a person based on any suitable data that simulates a person's size, body proportions, and the like. The model can be based upon data, for example, used in the clothing industry to define sizes for apparel, gloves, and the like. The standard person used and the data set used to derive the standard person is chosen with the user of the medical garment bottom in mind and can be based upon average values of body proportions from any sample of the population from, for example, total population, gender, age, body size or weight, nationality, or the like. The standard person may also be based upon any particular individual, or group of individuals. Thus, the standard person for a loop may be designed for marketing to the public in general, or be customized to fit a particular group of people, or to fit an individual.

The interior width of a finger space defined by each loop and measured at loop ends intersecting with the top edge of the band includes 0.75″-1.0″, 1.0″-1.25″, 1.25″-1.5″, 1.5″-1.75″, 1.75″-2.0″, or 2.0″-2.5″. Spacing between each loop as measured between side edges of each loop includes a range of heights from 0.01″−0.02″, 0.02″−0.03″, 0.03″−0.04″, 0.05″−0.06″, 0.06″−0.07″, 0.07″−0.08″, 0.08″−0.09″, and 0.09″-1.0″. A height of the loop as measured from the top edge of the band includes a range heights from 0.5″−0.6″, 0.6″−0.7″, 0.7″−0.8″, 0.8″−0.9″, 0.9″-1.0″, 1.0″-1.5″, 1.5-2.0″, 2.0″-2.5″, and 2.5″-3.0″.

One or more chain stitches 416 (e.g., doublestitch, etc.) paralleling the top of the edge, or an equivalent attachment, are sewn over or through the legs and underlying band to attach both ends forming a finger loop 406. The stitching shown 416 may also be used to attach the band 404 to a lower body garment (not shown). FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show respectively, two sides of the band 404, showing the stitches 416 and the finger loops 406. FIG. 5 shows the surface which would be on an inner facing surface on a garment in a convention construction, but the surface may also be on an outer facing surface. FIG. 6 shows the surface which would be on the outer facing surface on a garment in conventional construction (See FIG. 4), but the FIG. 6 surface may also be on the inner surface to present a smoother surface against the skin.

Reference is now made to FIG. 7. In addition to the attachment of the finger loops, the band may also incorporate construction for maintaining the garment on the waist while being worn. This may include, for example, one or more of draw strings, elastic waist bands, and circumference adjustment systems (e.g. belts). FIG. 7 shows a band 520 with attached finger loops 506 with a circumference adjustment system 522 constructed as a conventional belt buckle. There are many alternate belt buckle designs for use for belts and apparel straps that are suitable. These include systems where the band 520 is formed by adjustably joining two ends of a strip to form the band 520.

FIG. 8 shows a band 604 with attached finger loops 606 with a circumference adjustment system comprising a cord or strip 624 passing through the interior of the band between apertures in the outer surface. Where the strip exits through one or both apertures there may be a releasable locking or clamping structure to adjust the strip length, and thereby the band circumference. For example, the locking structure may be a button, snap, clip, hook, or other structure. The strip 624 may be elastic or non-elastic.

FIG. 9 shows a band 704 with attached finger loops with a circumference adjustment system that is obtained by having joinable ends to form the band 704, as in FIG. 7. Here to ends are fitted with joinable velcro or hook-and-loop fasteners 728.

The lower body garment is not shown in FIG. 7, FIG. 8, or FIG. 9, but one can be attached to the band by any suitable means, such as by sewing, an adhesive, by hook-and-loop attachments, hooks, buttons, snaps, zippers, or the like. For example, the loop or hook portion in FIG. 9 may extend a portion of or the entire length of the strip forming the band with a matching loop or hook attachment near the top edge of the lower body garment. Exemplary patches of hook-and-loop fasteners 732 are shown on the exterior surface of the band 704 to be fastened to an interior surface of a waist or hip region of a garment having a corresponding hook-and-loop fastener (not shown). Instead of multiple patches, a contiguous strip of a hook-and-loop fastener may be used, or other type of fastener as described.

FIG. 10 shows one finger 830 lifting the garment 806. This demonstrates the advantage of the assistive garment in that only a single hand, even a single finger 830, can be used to assist in getting dressed. By crossing the hand over to the other side of the garment and wrapping a hand behind the garment, a single finger or hand can be used to lift around sides of the garment to complete getting dressed and getting undressed.

FIG. 11 shows a garment comprising a band 904 with attached finger loops 906 and supporting a lower body garment 902, being pulled on by a wearer. Multiple fingers of the wearers left hand 932 are engaging at least two finger loops 906, and one finger of the right hand 930 is engaging a finger loop 906. Here is shown pulling up and putting on the garment. The loops are advantageous in that only a single finger can be used to lift the garment.

FIG. 12 shows a garment 1002 that has been fully donned around a person's waist and hips. The loops 1006 may be directed vertically upward or inclined slightly toward the body or away from the body. To undress, the finger loops are similarly engaged and pulled down to remove the garment.

As noted above, the assistive garment is particularly useful for individuals with physical impairment due to a neurological insult to brain, orthopedic injury, surgical repair of the upper body, degenerative joint disease, autoimmune disease resulting in upper body weakness, limited range of motion, gross or fine motor coordination impairments and sensory impairments to one or both sides of their body. Target individuals may also be those who suffer from neurological diseases such as Strokes, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, ALS, Guillian Barre Syndrome, Concussion Syndrome, shoulder replacement, rotator cuff tear protocol, and Rheumatoid Arthritis. More specifically, individuals who have limited upper body range of motion, strength and sensory impairments or coordination. The assistive garment can help these individuals gain independence with lower body dressing.

In summary, the present assistive garment is useful, and may be essential for personal independence for:

-   -   2.3 million individuals who suffer from Multiple Sclerosis     -   10 million individuals who suffer from Parkinson's Disease     -   15 million individuals who suffer from Strokes (CVA)     -   450,000 individuals who suffer from ALS     -   30,000 individuals who suffer from Guillian Barre Syndrome, and     -   Countless individuals who suffer from:     -   Rotator cuff tear & reverse shoulder replacements     -   Concussion syndrome     -   Sensory impairment     -   Rheumatoid Arthritis     -   Decreased-strength, fine motor and sensory impairments     -   Shoulder limitations

While this invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments and examples, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that many variations are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention, and that the invention, as described by the claims, is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the invention which do not depart from the spirit of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An assistive garment comprising: a lower body garment; a band adapted for wear around a lower extremity of a user, the band attached to the lower body garment at edges of a top opening of the lower body garment; and a plurality of finger loops attached along edges of the band, each loop of the plurality of finger loops providing a space for a finger to be inserted to pull the loop to lift or lower the lower body garment relative to a body of the user.
 2. The assistive garment of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the band includes one or more properties of being elastic, semi-rigid, and rigid.
 3. The assistive garment of claim 1, wherein the band comprises one or more of cotton, polyester, metal, plastic, or a combination thereof.
 4. The assistive garment of claim 1, wherein the band is adjustable around the lower extremity such that a closed, rounded shape defined by the band may be increased or decreased.
 5. The assistive garment of claim 1, wherein the band is double-stitched to edges of a top opening of the lower body garment.
 6. The assistive garment of claim 1, wherein the band is removably attached to top edges of a top opening of the lower body garment by one or more fastening structures.
 7. The assistive garment of claim 1, wherein the band is adjustable in length by hook and loop fasteners.
 8. The assistive garment of claim 1, wherein the plurality of finger loops extends upward relative to the assistive garment and a body of a user.
 9. The assistive garment of claim 1, wherein the plurality of finger loops defines a space for a finger sized according to a standard anatomical user as defined with respect to clothing and hand gloves.
 10. The assistive garment of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of finger loops include properties of being elastic.
 11. The assistive garment of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of finger loops include properties of being flexible, semi-rigid or rigid.
 12. The assistive garment of claim 1, wherein the plurality of finger loops are spaced apart so as not to overlap.
 13. The assistive garment of claim 1, wherein the plurality of finger loops are equally spaced around edges of the band.
 14. The assistive garment of claim 1, wherein at least one finger loop is located in a front and back part of the garment.
 15. The assistive garment of claim 1, wherein at least one finger loop extends downward relative to the assistive garment and a body of a user.
 16. The assistive garment of claim 1, wherein the plurality of finger loops comprises a material that is thin relative to standard clothing material thickness so as to blend underneath standard clothing material and be unnoticeable.
 17. The assistive garment of claim 1, wherein the lower body garment includes pants, skirts, half-slips, active wear bottoms, socks, underwear, incontinent diapers, swim bottoms, girdles, or hosiery.
 18. An assistive garment comprising: a lower body garment; a band attached around interior facing sides of the lower body garment; and a plurality of finger loops attached along an interior facing surface of the band, each loop of the plurality of finger loops providing a space for a finger to be inserted to pull the loop to lift or lower the lower body garment relative to a body of the user. 